Born on March 29, 1933, in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late John and Louise (Santos) Birch.

For 29 years, Mr. Birch proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard. During his military career, he received a Letter of Commendation, the National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, the Coast Guard Cutter insignia, along with many other decorations before his retirement in 1982. He went on to work in the private sector until retiring to the Cape in 1989.

Following his retirement he surrounded himself with his many children and grandchildren, whom he loved. He was always counting the days until the next holiday when everyone could be together. He would also reminisce for weeks afterward about how much he had enjoyed them. He also enjoyed spending time with his two dogs, Sushi and Mocha.

He was an avid reader and history buff. He made countless friendships and forever lasting memories at his favorite sports bar, Giordino's, where he looked forward to going a couple of times a week to hang with his buddies.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his twin brother, Roger Birch.

He is survived by his two daughters, Donna Birch of East Sandwich and Joanne Lovely of East Falmouth; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and stepchildren; his brother, John Birch, and his wife, Cecil, of Coventry, RI.

A graveside service was held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

Donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.

He was the husband of Barbara (O’Hara) Blaze to whom he was married for 54 years.

Born in Brockton, the son of the late John and Martha (Shilonski) Blazewicz, Mr. Blaze attended Brockton High School in 1951, Boston College, and graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1956 and Bridgewater Teachers College in 1958. He taught and coached basketball at Hull Junior High School from 1958 – 1959. He worked in the semi-conductor industry beginning in 1960 until the present.

He attended Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach, FL, and Our Lady of Assumption in Osterville, where he also sang in the choir.

He loved boating, fishing, golf, tennis, reading and music. He also loved to travel, especially to Lithuania in 2013. He was a life member of U.S.T.A., and previously a Grand Prix tennis chair umpire. He also belonged to the Moorings Yacht & Country Club in Vero Beach, Bay State Senior Golf Association and the Wianno Club in Osterville.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Blaze is survived by his children, Marie Blaze Thayer of Shelburne, VT, and her children, Hunter Thayer, Holly Thayer, Harrison Thayer, her husband, Fred Ziegler, and her stepchildren, Sam Ziegler and Molly Ziegler; John Martin Blaze and his wife, Emilie, and their children, John Andrew H. Blaze, Patricia H. Blaze, Julie H. Blaze and Helen (Nellie) H. Blaze of Ruxton, MD; Jerald Michael Blaze and his wife, Beth, and their children, Blake Edward Blaze, Justin G. Blaze, Colby Blaze, Cooper Blaze and Trevor Blaze of Osterville; his sister, Maryann Blazewicz Crowley and her husband, James, of Cotuit; and many nieces and nephews.

Services and burial will be private. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

He was born Jan. 19, 1935, in Brockton, a son of the late Harry F. Campbell Sr. and Ann M. (Richardson) Campbell, who survives.

He was a graduate of Brockton High School, Class of 1953, and after graduation went to work for the Brockton Edison Co. (now National Grid) for 44 years before retiring in 1997. He was an avid sailor who enjoyed cruising many harbors from Cotuit to the Bahamas to the Florida coast. He was also an active board member at LaVilla Riviera, a community where friends are family.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Patricia "Pat" A. Campbell; four children, Toni A. Campbell, Donald F. (Rose) Campbell and Patricia A. Campbell all of Plympton, MA, and John L. (Teresa) Campbell of Sandwich; two sisters, Ann (Bernard) Siegel of Brockton and Gay (Richard) Paulson of Falmouth; six grandchildren, Tayla (Justin) Burney, Jared Campbell, Mackenzie Campbell, Cole Campbell, Keith Campbell and John (Jessica) Farcas; one great-grandchild, Lia Farcas; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial Mass in Cotuit will be announced by the family at a later date.

Memorial donations be made to the Amy Siegel Scholarship, in honor of his late niece, Brockton High School Guidance Department, 43 Crescent St., Brockton, MA 02301, Attn: C. Leger.

Mrs. Donahue, formerly O'Neil, was born in Dorchester on Jan. 25, 1926. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul, in 2010.

Mrs. Donahue graduated from South Boston High School in 1943. She moved to West Yarmouth with her family in 1972. She was devoted to her family and her faith. She also supported the local Visiting Nurse and Hospice organizations.

She is survived by her cousin, Marie Moran of Arlington, and three children: Paul of Littleton, NH, Barbara of Hyannis, and Robert of Brockton; five grandchildren, Katherine, Daniel, Patrick, Brendan and Matthew; and seven great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, at Doane, Beal & Ames, 160 W. Main St., Hyannis, 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Jan. 11 at St. Francis Xavier Church, South Street, Hyannis, with burial at St. Frances Xavier Cemetery, Centerville.

Memorial donations may be sent to a local hospice or visiting nurse organization.

Judy Kaess, 74

Barnstable — Judy Kaess of Barnstable died peacefully at home Dec. 29, 2013, surrounded by her family, joining her son, Christopher, who had predeceased her in November.

She had been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in October 2009 and quietly worked to beat all the odds for four marvelous years.

She was born April 5, 1939, in New York, N.Y., daughter of the late Eugene and Gladys Miller Exman, and was raised in Scarsdale, NY. She graduated from Westtown Friends School, Westtown, PA, in 1957, and acquired her bachelor's degree in 1961 from Denison University, Granville, OH, where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Two years later she received her master's degree in elementary education from New York University. She began her teaching career in New Jersey and then taught at Rye Country Day School in Rye, NY.

She met her husband-to-be in 1966 while teaching at the American International School in Vienna, Austria. They were married in 1968 at St. Mary's Church in Barnstable and started their life together in Bonn, Germany, where she taught at the American Embassy School.

In 1975, the family moved to Providence, RI, and four years later settled in Barnstable in the Exman family home. While raising the children, she did extensive voluntary work for Sturgis Library, Osterville Garden Club, and Barnstable Historical Society. She was a longstanding member of Barnstable Yacht Club and The Beach Club of Centerville. She had also served as a member of the board of trustees of Cape Cod Academy.

She was happiest when tending to her vegetable and flower gardens, or when making jams and jellies from the grapes, raspberries, peaches and blueberries that grace the property. She took great pleasure in gifting her confections to countless friends near and far; particularly coveted were the jars of beach plum jelly, the main ingredient of which she harvested every autumn with her husband from a secret cache of bushes tucked away in the wilds of Sandy Neck. She also had a great love for all creatures great and small, and a special fondness for the local birds that frequented her year-round feeders.

She will be particularly remembered for her love of life, boundless generosity, easy smile, deep spirituality, and great belief in the power of positive thinking, to which the last years of her life are a testament.

She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dr. H. Walter Kaess; her daughter, Katherine Kaess Christensen, of Paris, France; her son-in-law, Matt Christensen; her two granddaughters, Kaia and Neva Christensen; her grandson, Vigo Christensen; and her brother, Wallace Exman of Osterville.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 11, at St. Mary's Church in Barnstable. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to HopeHealth Hospice, hopehealthco.org/donate or 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601, or to the New England Society for Abandoned Animals, nesaa.org or P.O. Box 1041, Osterville, MA 02655.

Ralph Douglas Knell, 86

Ruskin, FL — Ralph Douglas Knell, 86, of Ruskin, FL, formerly of Osterville, died Jan. 1, 2014, surrounded by his family and his Persian cat, Beau.

He was the husband of Irene (Rose) Knell for 64 years.

Born in Boston, Mr. Knell was the son of the late Ralph and Emma (Powell) Knell. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a graduate of Boston Trade School and was service manager for National Cash Register Co. on Cape Cod and the Islands for 36 years.

He was a member of the Ruskin United Methodist Church and a former member of the Osterville Methodist Church. He was a member of the Mariners Lodge A.F.& A.M. in Cotuit, and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Boston and a member of Aleppo Shriners Temple, Wilmington.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Knell is survived by his children, Paul D. Knell and his wife, Gail, of Dennisport, Kenneth C. Knell and his wife, Ann, of East Dennis, and Howard R. Knell and his wife, Judith, of West Barnstable; 10 grandchildren: Paula, Brian, Christopher, Michael, Erik, Michael, Neill, Christina, Bobby and Bethany; and 16 great-grandchildren; a sister, Eileen Lynch of Norwell; and six nephews. His sisters Margaret Carlin, Barbara Schow and Joan Knell predeceased him.

A funeral was held at the United Methodist Church, Osterville, followed by burial at Mosswood Cemetery in Cotuit.

Born in Webster, she was the daughter of the late William and Cecilia (Kozlowski) Celko. Formerly of Leicester, she moved to Centerville in 1987 and lived there until June 2013. Mrs. Lapierre was a homemaker, raising her six daughters, volunteering for the Hope Lodge in Worcester, and teaching CCD in Leicester. She was a fabulous cook, a wonderful homemaker, and artistic and talented in everything she did. She was a voracious reader and could correctly answer almost any "Jeopardy!" question. Her favorite months were May and October, and she was most content while tending her herb and flower gardens. She was an avid Red Sox fan, who loved early Americana, New England, and a glass of rosé wine at 5 p.m. She was a magnanimous woman and will be missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by their five daughters, Deborah Franklin of Hadley, Nancy Rao of Ashaway, RI, Susan Landry of Little Compton, RI, Jennifer Lapierre of Hermosa Beach, CA, and Amy Lapierre of College Point, NY; her brother, William Celko, of Webster; her sister, Grace Cacciapuoti of Lakewood Ranch, FL; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her daughter, Christine Lapierre.

A funeral will be held April 12, 2014, at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 S. Main St., Centerville.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to either St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Salvation Army at: https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org.

He was born Oct. 8, 1925, in Medford, to William V. Lynch, Sr. and Mary Louise Grady Lynch.

As a young man, he worked in the Charlestown Navy Yard. He enlisted in the Army on March 31, 1944, and trained at Fort Devens, Fort Bragg, then sent to Fort Jackson, where he was trained to fire the 105 and 155 Howitzers. He attended Fort Sill Wire Communications School and served in the European Theater in the battle of the Rhinelands and was honorably discharged on May 24, 1946, as a corporal with the 426th Field Artillery Group. He is entered into the World War II Registry of Remembrances for participating in World War II and helping our nation win the greatest military victory in history.

After the war, he returned to his hometown of Medford, working part time for the U.S. Postal Service where he received the department's Certificate of Award for his suggestion relative to flat case, first class, ZIP code and abbreviated states and improving postal operations. He worked for many years at the Winchester Tennis Club. In 1957, he began a distinguished service career of 33 years with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, retiring in 1990 as civil engineer II. He loved the Boston Red Sox and Bruins, rarely missing a game on TV.

Mr. Lynch is survived by his brothers, John J. Lynch of Medford, and Robert L. Lynch and sister-in-law, Brenda Lynch, of Rochester; his sisters, Dorothy Anthony of Allston, Mildred Sowa of East Freetown, and Barbara DeMello and brother-in-law, John DeMello, of Medford; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, all whom will fondly remember their famous family poker card games.

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Lynch, and his sisters, Margaret Ferguson, Irene Lynch, Elizabeth Newell, Rosemary Connors, and his brother, Arthur Lynch.

Services were held at the Doane, Beal and Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main St., Hyannis, with burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, on Sept. 23, 1928, Mrs. Noyes was the daughter of the late Layard and Inez Savacool of Stratford, CT. She and her family later moved to Massachusetts, where she was a 1946 graduate of Dedham High School and a 1948 graduate of Garland Junior College in Boston, where she earned a degree in fashion design.

She was known as a loving and devoted mother whose children and grandchildren were the great joys of her life. She lived most of her life by the ocean, and into her 80s she loved a day spent at the beach with a good book. She was an avid sports fan who especially loved the Boston Red Sox and could always be counted on to know the details of every game. She thoroughly enjoyed antiquing and turned her passion into her own business, Junque Box Antiques. She was a dealer for many years, exhibiting primitive antiques in area shows and in her shop in West Dennis. Before her retirement in 2001 she worked for many years as a receptionist for Cape Cod Human Services in Hyannis. In 2011, she relocated from Hyannis to Concord Park in West Concord, where she enjoyed making new friends and being closer to her grandchildren.

She is survived by her son, Christopher Noyes of Mashpee; her daughters, Heather Noyes of Jupiter, FL, and Wendy Ditmars and her husband, Peter Ditmars, of Westford; her grandchildren, Hillary, Matthew, Christopher, Hannah, Emma, and Josie Ditmars of Westford. She was predeceased by her parents; her infant daughter, Heidi Noyes; her son, Peter Noyes; her former husband, Curtiss Noyes; her sister, Betty Bradley; and her brother, David Savacool.

A private family service will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Volunteers of America at www.voa.org or The Jimmy Fund at www.jimmyfund.org.

With the exception of the past year and 11 months, Mr. Peterson had been living with his daughter full time since August 2004, summering in Cotuit and wintering in Bonita Springs, FL,

Mr. Peterson was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific theatre. He attained his undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate degrees from Springfield College in Springfield, and spent his entire career in education, culminating in his appointment as principal of Classical High School in Springfield in 1963. He served 2,300 staff and students each year of his tenure. He will be remembered by them with love and respect for his unfailing, gracious attention to them, as well as for his just leadership and spotless integrity.

He was married to Evelyn (Muscolino) Peterson for nearly 62 years before her death in 2004. In addition to his only child, Linda-Gene Peterson, of Cotuit, he leaves several nieces and nephews and their families, including Joseph Bonales of Providence, RI, Kenneth Peterson of East Longmeadow, Anita Cogan of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Lisa Capparelli of Glen Mills, PA. His brother, Kenneth Peterson, and sister Jean Peterson Bonales, predeceased him.

Mr. Peterson's commital service will be held at 1:15 p.m. Jan. 11, at Mosswood Cemetery, Cotuit. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Evelyn. Burial will be followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable. A reception will follow in the Church parish hall.

Memorial donations may be made to either to Hope Hospice of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601 or to American Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mary “Molly” Sheppard

Yarmouth Port — Mary “Molly” Sheppard died with her family by her side at Liberty Commons Nursing Home in Chatham on Dec. 31, 2013.

She had happily lived at Brookside Assisted Living for two years until her health diminished recently. Before that, she and the love of her life, Willard "Bill" Sheppard, enjoyed almost 40 years of happiness at their home in Yarmouth Port on the marsh, after retiring from Michigan.

She knew everyone and everyone knew her in town because of her outgoing personality, generous nature and ability to make you laugh. She was the first to bring soup and a smile to those who were ill, spending many years serving on the visiting committee of the First Congregational Church of Yarmouth.

She loved playing golf at Cummaquid Golf Course, though admitted she was no good at it and just played for fun. She was famous for her annual Halloween parade through local stores, banks and offices, dressed in outrageous costumes. The Brinks men followed her into the bank one year thinking she was there to rob it!

She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Bill; daughter Harriet; her parents, Lillian and Harry Philbrook; and a brother, Richard Philbrook.

She is survived by daughter Jane and son-in-law Peter Cutler, of Yarmouth Port; daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Robert Northrop, of Williamsburg, VA; sister-in-law Patricia Philbrook of West Yarmouth; grandchildren Jonathan and his wife, Jennie Cutler, of South Yarmouth, Matthew Cutler of Malden, Jennifer Shrauger of Alamo, CA, and Stephanie Northrop and her husband, John Robinette, of Brooklyn, NY; her five great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial will be private but there will be a celebration of life this summer where she can be remembered in her happiest days and honored by those who knew and loved her.

He was the husband of Adrienne (Sookikian) Tanashian, father of Gary Tanashian and his wife, Heather, and Lynn Brown and her husband, Charles; grandfather of Matthew, Nairi, Isabela and Sofia; and brother of the late Leo Tanashian.

A funeral was held at St. Stephen's Armenian Church, Watertown.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Stephen's Armenian Church or Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, 434 Rte. 134, South Dennis, MA 02660.

She led an active life, driven by curiosity and a sense of adventure that included summer cruises on the New England coast with her family and several trips to Europe with her husband and friends.

Born Sept. 14, 1920, she grew up in Rye, NY, the daughter of Helen and Stewart Hathaway. She attended Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, and graduated from Vassar College in 1942. She married Lt. John B. Tew a month later in Vero Beach, FL, where they met.

Following John's service in World War II, the couple settled in Lincoln, where they raised their five children. John worked as a portfolio manager at Scudder, Stevens & Clark in Boston, ultimately becoming a partner in the firm.

The family enjoyed skiing with friends at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, spring visits to Vero Beach, and summers in Osterville. As their children grew, married, and had their own children, generations would return for weeks together in Osterville. The Tews enjoyed playing golf together and were mixed pair champions at both the Wianno Club in Osterville and the Concord Country Club in Concord.

She took particular pride in growing flowers and creating flower arrangements for St. Anne's-in-the-Field Church in Lincoln and for Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, of which she was a member. Just as she loved to grow her own, she was an inveterate roadside wildflower picker, sometime cottage rose pruner/thief and rescuer of bulldozed day lilies.

In 1976, after his retirement, the Tews built a retirement home in Osterville. On a sailing trip in 1982 John had a stroke, and Mrs. Tew devoted herself to his care with love and humor until his death 12 years later. She remained in Osterville, where she enjoyed visits from her children and grandchildren. Keeping up with local issues and being a devoted reader of books and newspapers, she was a consummate conversationalist and avid correspondent. To relax and reflect, she loved to take her morning coffee and the newspaper to Dowses Beach overlooking Nantucket Sound, where she and John had spent so much time together.

She started living part time at Fox Hill Village, a retirement community in Westwood, in 2002, splitting her time between Westwood and Osterville. Her interest in new places never waned. At age 80 she joined her four former Vassar roommates on a trip to southern France, where they spent two weeks in a villa, enjoying day trips with Mrs. Tew as the designated driver. At age 87, she and some of her children drove around northern California, seeing the vineyards, redwoods and coastline, and flying silently past Mount Shasta in her first hot air balloon ride.

She is survived by her five children: James Tew (Junie), Hathaway Brewster (Galen), David Tew (Margaret), John Tew and Laurie Tew (Judy Bernstein); 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express its deepest thanks to the staff at Clark House Nursing Center at Fox Hill Village for their loving care in Val's final days.

A memorial service will be held in the summer at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Osterville.

Memorial donations may be sent to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 421 Wianno Ave., Osterville, MA 02655.